Fun AND Safety

Beautiful weather, warmer water and the influx of tourists aren't the only signs summer is here.

For Orange County coastal communities summer means a busy time for emergency services, translating to more lifeguard and police presence at beaches.

The biggest issues they deal with include drinking on the beach (which is illegal), lost children, riptides, big surf, traffic congestion and theft.

The goal of each agency, officials say is straightforward: dealing with issues on the beach to ensure visitors and residents have a good time and remain safe.

Each agency has its own methods of achieving this but if there is one thing that is certain — there will be a more visible public safety presence at every beach.

Here is a look at some steps three south county cities are taking to achieve those ends.

SAN CLEMENTE

San Clemente beaches are patrolled by city lifeguards and the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and the mile-long state beach is patrolled by state lifeguards.

San Clemente increases its number of guards to 25 or more for the summer, whereas in January there would only be two or three.

Sheriff's Department Sgt. Joe McClintock said police services deploys deputies to the beach, Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. to ensure safety at the beaches that stretch from Camino Capistrano to Cristianitos Road.

Alcohol on the beach is the most widespread issue San Clemente's police services has to deal with. McClintock said they try and warn visitors that alcohol is not allowed before cracking down.

One of the major changes the city lifeguards want to remind beach visitors about is the restriction on riding bicycles on the south side of the pier during the summer.

Marine Safety Officer Ian Burton, a six-year veteran lifeguard at the city said they deal with the typical water rescue, medical emergencies and dealing with the influx of visitors. Burton also warned that drinking alcohol on the beach is not only dangerous but illegal and lifeguards can issue citations.

LAGUNA BEACH

Laguna Beach is one of the busiest cities in the county come summer time.

“Being that we are a tourist destination (beaches and art festivals), we do experience a dramatic increase in activities during the summer months,” said Laguna Beach Police Captain Jason Kravetz.

In 2011 and 2012 there was a 23 percent rise in calls to the police department during the summer months compared to winter. Beach-related public safety issues are a major reason for the increase.

Laguna's beaches are patrolled by Marine Safety lifeguards and its police department. Kravetz says the department increases its staffing levels at the beach, which include ATV, bicycle and foot patrols. In addition, the department hired 15 traffic aides and 11 beach patrol officers to handle traffic and municipal code compliance.

The city's Marine Safety Department adds more than 100 seasonal lifeguards at city beaches. The city patrols 5.7 miles of beach in the north and the county lifeguards patrol the rest of the beaches in the south.

The county lifeguards utilize ATVs, rescue watercraft and dive teams in south Laguna and Dana Point.

DANA POINT

With four of the region's most popular resorts, Dana Point also sees a huge summer traffic increase.

Dana Point has two beaches patrolled by county lifeguards (The Strand and Salt Creek) and the Orange County Sheriff's Department, as well as Doheny State Beach, which is patrolled by the state parks system.

Orange Coast South Sector State Park Superintendant Rich Hayden said there is an increase of lifeguard towers staffed along the nearly one-mile stretch of beach they patrol.

On weekends and holidays during the summer they will have 9-12 towers staff as opposed to one or two during the rest of the year.

Sheriff's Department Lt. Lynn Koehmstedt, the chief of Dana Point's police services said their department redeployed a school resource officer to the beach full-time in the summer to work with the lifeguards to ensure safety and to enforce ordinances such as the alcohol ban.

He said the presence of the deputy on the beach full-time helps ensure compliance with municipal codes and makes responding to issues on the beach easier.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.